Essay, Research Paper

The Subtle Humor of Pride and Prejudice

Of all the novels that Jane Austen has written, critics consider Pride

and Prejudice to be the most amusing. Wit can be found everyplace in the book ;

in it & # 8217 ; s character descriptions, imagination, but largely in it & # 8217 ; s conversations

between characters. Her novels were non merely her manner of entertaining people but

it was besides a manner to show her sentiments and positions on what surrounded her and

affected her. Her novels were similar columns. Austen uses a assortment of amusing

techniques to show her ain position on characters, both in her book and in her

society that she lived in. We, the readers are frequently the object of her ridicule,

and Austen makes the readers view themselves in a manner which makes it easy for

the reader to express joy at themselves. She introduces imitations and character

foils to foster demo how pathetic a character may be. Pride and Prejudice

has many character foils to overstate a characters mistakes or traits. Austen

besides uses irony rather frequently to inform the readers on her ain personal sentiments.

The amusing techniques imitations, sarcasm, and sarcasm, non merely helped to supply

wit for Austen & # 8217 ; s readers, but they besides helped Austen to give her ain personal

sentiment on public affairs.

When an action is exaggerated on phase by an histrion, it becomes all the

more noticeable to the audience. An writer can overstate a character in order

to do merriment of them. Austen exaggerates many of her characters and hence

makes imitations of them in order to stress their absurdity. Mrs.

Bennet is such a character. Her highly unpleasant mode and reactions

causes readers to please in the state of affairss which Mrs. Bennet places herself

into. Mrs. Bennet & # 8217 ; s rough lingua and simple head causes the reader to laugh,

because it is so overdone that the reader thinks that such a individual can non

exist. Mr. Collins is another overdone character in the novel. But would

such characters seem humourous without person to respond to them? Not at all.

Such hyperbole works merely when you place them besides another character who

seems really existent. Mrs. Bennet is placed besides her hubby to do her expression

all the more pathetic and Mr. Collins, when placed particularly by Elizabeth,

seems to be incredible at times. His proposal to Elizabeth would non be as

humourous without Eliza & # 8217 ; s reaction and response to him. Therefore, imitation,

the hyperbole of character is an indispensable tool to Austen as agencies of

portraying sarcasm in the novel.

Irony is an first-class manner for writers to unite humor and play at the

same clip. It works good in many parts of Pride and Prejudice. Irony can be

found in the gradual disclosure of Darcy and Elizabeth & # 8217 ; s feelings for each other.

It provides wit for the readers, yet at the same clip, it revolves around the

basic secret plan of the narrative. It is a great balance between dry duologue and

motion towards the scenes in the flood tide of the novel, when the relationship is

developed. Another great illustration of her dry humor can be found in the first

chapter of the novel, when Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Bennet discuss the new renter of

Netherfield Park, Mr. Bingley. Every sentence of that conversation can come

back to the gap line of the novel: & # 8220 ; It is a truth universally acknowledged,

that a individual adult male in ownership of a

good luck, must be in privation of a wife.”

( p.1 ) Now for this sentence, Mrs. Bennet begins by giving one definition of

& # 8216 ; universally & # 8217 ; , while Mr. Bennet gives another.

& # 8220 ; Is he married or individual? & # 8221 ;

& # 8220 ; Oh! individual, my beloved, to be certain! A individual adult male of big lucks of four

or five thousand a twelvemonth. What a all right thing for our misss! & # 8221 ;

& # 8220 ; How so? how can it impact them? & # 8221 ;

& # 8220 ; My dear Mr. Bennet, & # 8221 ; replied his married woman, & # 8220 ; how can you be so boring! You

must cognize that I am believing of his get marrieding one of them. & # 8221 ;

& # 8220 ; Is that his design in settling here? & # 8221 ;

& # 8220 ; Design! bunk, how can you speak so! & # 8221 ; ( p.2 )

Mr.Bennet & # 8217 ; s conversation is rather dry and really satirical, because of

his utmost niceness and playful artlessness, which in consequence, disquieted Mrs. Bennet.

That provides wit for the reader as a consequence of her dramatic character. Mrs.

Bennet & # 8217 ; s character is non dry in the least, but it is the blending of both

characters that bring about the sarcasm. Such foils points out to the readers the

absurdity of human nature.

Pride in Prejudice is besides really rich in sarcasm. Satire, in it & # 8217 ; s

simplest signifier, is a & # 8220 ; humor, sarcasm, or irony, used for the intent of exposing or

discrediting frailty or folly & # 8221 ; . Satire is normally used for many grounds,

including roasting public sentiment. Austen disapproves of the manner that public

sentiment ever considers itself to be above all other sentiments. She

demonstrates the haughtiness of public sentiment in the affair with Darcy and the

ball. Darcy & # 8220 ; drew the attending of the room by his mulct, tall individual, handsome

characteristics, baronial bearing ; and the study which was in general circulation within

five proceedingss after his entryway, of his holding ten thousand a twelvemonth. The

gentlemen pronounced him to be a all right figure of a adult male, the ladies declared that

he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley. & # 8221 ; ( p.7 ) The grounds which cause the

ladies to see him much handsomer than Mr. Bingley is because his income is

much more fine-looking as good. Public sentiment considers Darcy to be a great adult male,

merely on history of his big income. However, one time public sentiment hears of

Darcy & # 8217 ; s pride and supposed haughtiness, it instantly states that it knew Mr.

Darcy was a atrocious adult male, and that it ever assumed so. Elizabeth, throughout

the bulk of the novel, follows public sentiment on the position of Darcy. She & # 8217 ; s

merely a sheep, following the remainder of the herd. Austen demonstrates that public

sentiment is so speedy to alter heads that it frequently develops an sentiment without

informing itself of all the inside informations or facts. This becomes, to the readers,

something to laugh at, although most readers do follow public sentiment, one manner

or another.

The great show imitations, character foils, sarcasm, and sarcasm of

provides wit for Austen & # 8217 ; s readers. Many of the characters that Austen writes

about are frequently topics of ridicule. The characters and state of affairss that Austen

enjoys satirising were existent for her in her clip as good. However, the ultimate

sarcasm falls on us, Austen & # 8217 ; s readers, who laugh at Austen & # 8217 ; s characters. We are

the characters in the novel to Jane Austen. We recognize ourselves in the

characters that Austen enjoys knocking. It & # 8217 ; s that recognization of ourselves

that we laugh at and what we find amusive is the fact that Austen makes us see

ourselves this manner. We laugh at our ain mistakes.

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